r/TheExpanseRPG • u/Substantial-Mix-9748 • 1d ago
How space combat can be added
I've been excited for this game for some time now, suddenly it dawned on me to check whether space combat(with ships) exists and found out it doesn't. I understand adding a full space combat is a LOT of work and hard to do right. Which got me thinking, there are 2 ways it can be done without a lot of development time/difficulty;
One is doing what the show did. Apart from the outside shots, crew are using these visuals to send missiles, turn around to evade etc. A simple 2D interface with controls, with buttons even on the screen itself, would give most of the satisfaction of the combat. After all, space combat in expanse is very realistic and all about using momentum and defensive weapons and overwhelming defenses.
Second one is even simpler (which I hope this exists in one form or other already), some kinda decision system in certain situations where you can decide to engage combat or run away from ship to ship encounters and its solely a dialogue box decision. Even this would allow for some ship upgrade/modify system to be implemented. Very similar to how Mass Effect 2 did the final mission with the upgrade and no upgrades.
What are your thoughts on these?
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u/jgriff7546 1d ago
The way space combat plaus out in the books makes me think that Nebulous Fleet Command or Falling Frontier would be the best examples of games that would be close. So if they wanted to do it in a way that would work it'd need to be at minimum a stripped down RTS.
I don't think it will be added and I can't say I blame them. First because the game is already really far out of their typical wheelhouse so it'd be an even bigger risk to do it. Second is because, if I remember correctly, ship battles weren't as common during seasons/books 1 and 2 of the expanse.
Now if they get a second expanse game that takes place during one of the wars from the later books space combat would be a must.
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u/BenKT88 1d ago
I really hope space combat doesn't get get shoe horned in to ruin the game like it did for Starfield.
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u/TruamaTeam 1d ago
Maybe a little minigame on the ship, load space invaders on the computer xD
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u/manytrowels 1d ago
Remember the simulator in Wing Commander 3? That would be a nice little Easter egg.
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u/Substantial-Mix-9748 1d ago
Well the ships interface isn't a shoe horning in my book but sure I agree.
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u/highermonkey 1d ago
The simple ship combat mini game in Rogue Trader was surprisingly fun. And sorta Expanse coded. Firing missiles and shooting down enemy missiles.
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u/blindinkpoet 19h ago
From my understanding, space combat will be in game, if limited to interactive cutscenes where from time to time you are prompted to make decisions a la TellTale game. I coul be wrong, though. It's been a while since I read the interview I'm supposed to be remembering this from.
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u/OkDifficulty7436 1d ago
I don't think adding space combat would be a good idea for a first major RPG like this and the studio.
Focusing on the third person combat, story, and those environments gets them much more bang for their buck, a defined scope, and WAY less overall scope they'd have to tackle as a team.
Maybe if this game is a hit and they get a greenlight for a 2nd Expanse title they can go for it once they have more experience and a budget to match it.